Anthropic starts localizing Claude pricing for India, its biggest market after the US

Anthropic is making strides to adapt its Claude pricing for the Indian market, which stands as its largest territory outside the United States. This move comes as global AI companies increasingly customize their offerings to attract users in the world's most populous nation. Some Indian users are already noticing localized pricing options on Claude's website and mobile applications. However, Anthropic has yet to integrate payments through India's popular Unified Payments Interface (UPI), a system widely used for instant transactions. Currently, users must rely on credit or debit cards or utilize billing via Apple and Google's app stores. This approach contrasts with OpenAI's recent implementation of Indian rupee pricing for ChatGPT, which includes UPI support. Indian subscribers have long requested subscriptions in rupees, as the existing dollar pricing and currency conversion create unnecessary obstacles in accessing the service. Notably, India accounts for 5.8% of global usage of Claude, making it the service's second-largest market after the U.S. On Claude's Indian website, the Pro version is listed at ₹2,000 (approximately $21) per month for annual billing, compared to $17 in the U.S. The Claude Max subscription starts at ₹11,999 (around $125) per month in India, while in the U.S., it costs $100. Team plans are priced at ₹2,399 (about $25) per seat per month in India, versus $20 in the U.S. All prices in India reflect local taxes, although users may find slight discrepancies between mobile app pricing and website listings. This pricing strategy coincides with Anthropic’s heightened focus on the Indian market. The company established an office in Bengaluru earlier this year and appointed Irina Ghose, former managing director of Microsoft India, to lead its operations. Additionally, Anthropic has formed partnerships with major Indian IT firms like Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services to enhance enterprise AI deployments. Despite this expansion, difficulties arose in June when Anthropic temporarily suspended access to its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models for users outside the U.S., prompting some Indian developers to explore alternatives. Although access to Fable 5 has been restored, restrictions on Mythos 5 persist. As India continues to grow as a critical market for AI technologies, converting its vast user base into paying subscribers presents a significant challenge, particularly given the price sensitivity prevalent in the region. Anthropic has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the rollout of its rupee pricing in India.